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Salary vs. Cost of Living in Michigan

Compare take-home pay and living costs across 12 counties and 64 occupations in Michigan.

Counties
12
MI, listed here
Occupations
64
with published wages
Median of medians
$49,240
per year, before tax
Population covered
5,908,802
residents in listed counties

Salary and cost of living across Michigan

This page covers 12 Michigan counties and 64 occupations with published wages. Across all of them the median of the median salaries is $49,240 a year. Each county links to its own list of jobs, with take-home pay and cost-of-living math for every one.

Housing is the biggest difference between places: a one-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs from $946 a month in Ionia County, MI to $1,503 in Washtenaw County, MI. Among counties with at least 20 listed occupations, Wayne County, MI has the highest median-of-medians pay at $56,715. Wayne County, MI has the largest share of occupations (100%) whose take-home pay covers rent, food, energy and gasoline.

Counties in Michigan, largest first

Showing 1–12 of 12.

Counties in Michigan with pay and rent summaries
CountyPopulationJobs listedTypical median pay1-bedroom rentJobs covering basics
Wayne County, MI1,772,25964$56,715$1,167/mo100%
Oakland County, MI1,279,82564$56,715$1,167/mo100%
Macomb County, MI879,85364$56,715$1,167/mo100%
Kent County, MI663,15016$39,775$1,365/mo100%
Washtenaw County, MI369,8221$103,450$1,503/mo100%
Ottawa County, MI301,20316$39,775$1,357/mo100%
Livingston County, MI195,83364$56,715$1,291/mo100%
St. Clair County, MI160,22164$56,715$1,167/mo100%
Lapeer County, MI88,83764$56,715$1,167/mo100%
Montcalm County, MI67,81616$39,775$1,001/mo100%
Ionia County, MI66,57416$39,775$946/mo100%
Barry County, MI63,40916$39,775$1,041/mo100%